NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a pilot study of patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), treatment with the anti-TNF agent etanercept (Enbrel; Immunex) was safe and generally well tolerated and showed beneficial clinical effects in patients with early, but not advanced disease.
TNF-alpha is believed to play a pathogenic role in CTCL, Dr. Razelle Kurzrock and colleagues from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston note in the August issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
To investigate the possible effect of inhibiting TNF-alpha, they treated 13 patients with relapsed, heavily pretreated CTCL with etanercept at a dose of 25 milligrams subcutaneously twice weekly for 2 months. Of the 12 evaluable patients, 3 had stage I-IIA disease and 9 had stage IIB-IV disease.
According to the team, etanercept induced partial remission in one patient (8%) and minor response in one patient (8%). Both of these responders had Stage IB disease (without transformation). None of the 10 patients with advanced disease and/or large cell transformation responded.
Based on this pilot study, the researchers conclude that the effect of etanercept in a larger cohort of patients with early disease “merits investigation,” and that dose-escalation should be considered given the observed “excellent tolerance.”
J Am Acad Dermatol 2004;200-204.
MeSH Headings:Antineoplastic Agents, Combined: Immunologic and Biological Factors: Immunologic Factors: Membrane Proteins: Receptors, Cell Surface: Receptors, Immunologic: Lymphoma, T-Cell: Receptors, Cytokine: Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor: Chemical Actions and Uses: Chemical Actions: Chemicals and DrugsCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
